Betty for Veep?

Betty Ford for Vice President? The novel notion has been proposed in some seriousness by Forbes magazine, which argues, reasonably enough, that "all everybody would be talking about, arguing about and enthusing about would be this unique ticket, this extraordinary running mate." Unique it certainly would be. And the sparkling Betty, clearly one of Gerald Ford's greatest political assets, might well help him attract a larger share of the women's vote in an uphill race if he gets his party's nomination next week in Kansas City.

But a husband-wife team? Might that not be carrying nepotism a bit far? And would it not be the wrong way for women to score the breakthrough? Still, the thought of Vice President Betty, tossing off refreshingly candid and sensible thoughts about almost anything, is intriguing. Too bad Ronald Reagan, so eager to jolt the nomination race open with a startling vice-presidential choice, did not try to unify the party with Betty. For that matter, imagine that Jimmy Carter, in a mood of bipartisan unity and love, had selected Betty. That twosome might well have won the White House by acclamation, saving taxpayers the wear and expense of a fall campaign and November election.

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